Area is the measure of the surface inside a two-dimensional figure, found by covering it with equal-sized square units arranged without gaps or overlaps and counting the squares. The learner understands that figures with different shapes can have the same area, that area is expressed in square units, and that area is distinct from perimeter, which measures boundary length; more advanced formulas and fractional or irregular units are not included.
Area tells how much surface is inside a shape. To find area, cover the shape with equal-sized squares that fit together with no gaps and no overlaps. Then count the squares.
Suppose this rectangle is covered with square units:
So, the area of the rectangle is
The word square is important because we measured the inside using square units. Area is not the same as perimeter: area measures the space inside, while perimeter measures the distance around the outside.
Click a topic below to practice the foundational skills you'll need, learn the steps, or master this skill
Earned ?